The sociocultural impact of tourism Chapter 6 The sociocultural impact of tourism

Socio-cultural benefits of tourism Understanding other societies Developing and maintaining links with other regions and countries Re-establishing or retaining cultural and heritage features of destination countries Widening tourists’ cultural interests and appreciation of foreign food and drink

Socio-cultural disadvantages of tourism In large numbers, tourism can create friction between hosts and guests Tourism encourages growth in local crime and deviant behaviour (e.g. gambling and prostitution) Sexual exploitation of locals by some tourists Destruction of traditions, as locals adopt incomers’ fashions and behaviours Relationships between hosts and guests become increasingly commercial and superficial as tourist numbers grow

The ten principles of sustainable tourism Using resources sustainably Reducing over-consumption and waste Maintaining diversity Integrating tourism into planning Supporting local economies Involving local economies Consulting stakeholders and the public Training staff Marketing tourism responsibly Undertaking research Source: Eber, S, Tourism Concern

Protection of the environment Respect for local cultures AITO (Association of Independent Tour Operators) Guidelines for sustainable tourism Protection of the environment Flora, fauna and landscapes Respect for local cultures Traditions, religions and the built heritage Economic and social benefits for local communities Conservation of natural resources, from the office to the destination Minimizing pollution caused by noise, waste disposal and congestion

Adaptation of tourists to local norms Types of tourists Numbers of tourists Adaptation to local norms Explorer Very limited Adapts fully Elite Rarely seen Off-beat Uncommon, but seen Adapts well Unusual Occasional Adapts somewhat Incipient mass Steady flow Seeks Western amenities Mass Continuous influx Expects Western amenities Charter Massive arrivals Demands Western amenities Table 6.1 Levels of adaptation of tourists to local norms Source: Valene Smith, Hosts and Guests, Blackwell, 1992

The nature of host-guest relations Relations are transitory and superficial They are undertaken under constraints of time and space, with visitors compacting sights into as limited amount of time as possible There is a lack of spontaneity in relations; meetings tend to be prearranged to fit tour schedules, and involve mainly financial transactions Relations are unequal and unbalanced, due to disparities in wealth and status of the participants Source: UNESCO

The tour guide as culture-broker Interprets local culture Translates as necessary Negotiates local transactions Offers guidance on correct behaviour Protects the interests of the group

Irridex model of stress relative to tourism development Stages Characteristics Symptoms Stage 1 Euphoria Visitors welcomed, little formal development Stage 2 Apathy Visitors taken for granted, contacts become commercial Stage 3 Irritation Locals concerned about tourism, efforts made to improve infrastructure Stage 4 Antagonism Open hostility from locals, attempts to limit damage and tourism flows Table 6.2 Irridex model of stress relative to tourism development Source: G. V. Doxey, ‘A causation theory of visitor—resident irritants: methodology and research inferences’, Proceedings of the Travel Research Association Sixth Annual Conference, San Diego, 1975

Examples Some examples of forced removal of indigenous populations to accommodate the needs of tourism: The removal of Masai tribespeople from their Ngorongoro crater hunting lands in Tanzania, to allow tourists free movement to photograph wildlife The eviction by Botswana of Gana and Gwi Bushmen from their land in the central Kalahari game reserve to open the area to tourism The removal and forced labour of Burmese to enhance tourist projects in Myanmar

Managing the social impact of tourism Involves a choice between Integrating visitors into the local community as far as practicable, while controlling overall numbers of visitors Concentrating visitors within specific areas of the region, thus limiting their impact on the local community

Local benefit from tourism Locals are most able to benefit from tourism inflow if: Developers and local authorities consult with them during the development process Developers ensure locals are offered employment at all levels Locals have access to adequate skills and management training Finance is made available to encourage local investment in tourism businesses